H2Andy
Contributor
well, just a quick report on finishing up TDI's Advanced Nitrox and Deco
Procedures with Rick Murcar (GDI), who is an excelent instructor and i
would recommend highly.
Jeandiver and I and Rick did the first part of the class (Advanced Nitrox) the weekend
of April 29-30. we did three dives at Ginnie, and as a result, i ended up
changing some gear configuration that wasn't working for me (light on left hand,
moved it to the right; computer moved to the left hand; SPG clipped to chest
d-ring rather than hip D-ring).
the best part of this class was spending about 40 minutes in the ballroom just
passing stages back and forth with Jean and Rick. it really helped me appreciate
what it was involved, bouyancy and finger-skill wise.
then, yesterday and today (June 3 and 4) we did the four dives for Deco Procedures.
yesterday, we were at Paradise Springs. did to dives to 128 feet and 127 feet, both
deco dives (with 9 minutes and 13 minutes of deco each). i am pretty succeptible
to narcosis, so both dives i was a bit "out of it," though still able to function. the
second dive was better. these were my deepest dives to date, my previous deepest
dive being 117 feet (also at Paradise Spring, but back in 2004).
then today we went to 40 Fathom Grotto and did two dives to 150 feet, with considerable longer deco obligations (20 minute dive time and 20 minutes deco,
and then 20 minute dive and 22 minutes deco).
the first dive, i was WAY zonked at 150. basically all i could do was hold the line
and hold depth. we were right on top of a white van, but i couldn't descend to
touch it's roof because it would have broken my 150 depth maximum.
on ascent, i made two mistakes: i didn't switch my computer from 21% backgas to 38% deco mix when i made the actual switch; and i waited too long to switch from 38% deco mix to 91% deco mix (should have switched at 20 per the plan; switched at 10).
apparently, we went right by the motorcycle that's sunk there, but i didn't see it.
apparently, we went by it TWICE and i didn't see it. all i can say is that narcosis
narrows my perceptions a lot.
ok, dive two was also down to 150 feet, but this time i felt much better. we
toured the Grotto, and got to see a boat, an airplane, another boat, a kid's
car, and the van. Also got to see the motorcyle (finally) this time.
deco went just according to plan, and no mistakes like last time. then we
had to swim our tanks with no air on bc or drysuit from one of the platforms up
to the higher platform, and finally had to shoot a lift bag. shooting the lift bag
went fine, but i lost my double-ended clip (from my spool) (dropped it) (bastich)
Rick is a wonderful instructor, and taking classes with him is fun, but extremely
hard work, and very educational. i always feel like i learn a ton from him.
this was a great class. thanks Jean, for being such a great buddy, and thanks
Fred and WaterMan (i'm sorry, your name slips my memory just now). you guys
were a lot of fun to have around.
Procedures with Rick Murcar (GDI), who is an excelent instructor and i
would recommend highly.
Jeandiver and I and Rick did the first part of the class (Advanced Nitrox) the weekend
of April 29-30. we did three dives at Ginnie, and as a result, i ended up
changing some gear configuration that wasn't working for me (light on left hand,
moved it to the right; computer moved to the left hand; SPG clipped to chest
d-ring rather than hip D-ring).
the best part of this class was spending about 40 minutes in the ballroom just
passing stages back and forth with Jean and Rick. it really helped me appreciate
what it was involved, bouyancy and finger-skill wise.
then, yesterday and today (June 3 and 4) we did the four dives for Deco Procedures.
yesterday, we were at Paradise Springs. did to dives to 128 feet and 127 feet, both
deco dives (with 9 minutes and 13 minutes of deco each). i am pretty succeptible
to narcosis, so both dives i was a bit "out of it," though still able to function. the
second dive was better. these were my deepest dives to date, my previous deepest
dive being 117 feet (also at Paradise Spring, but back in 2004).
then today we went to 40 Fathom Grotto and did two dives to 150 feet, with considerable longer deco obligations (20 minute dive time and 20 minutes deco,
and then 20 minute dive and 22 minutes deco).
the first dive, i was WAY zonked at 150. basically all i could do was hold the line
and hold depth. we were right on top of a white van, but i couldn't descend to
touch it's roof because it would have broken my 150 depth maximum.
on ascent, i made two mistakes: i didn't switch my computer from 21% backgas to 38% deco mix when i made the actual switch; and i waited too long to switch from 38% deco mix to 91% deco mix (should have switched at 20 per the plan; switched at 10).
apparently, we went right by the motorcycle that's sunk there, but i didn't see it.
apparently, we went by it TWICE and i didn't see it. all i can say is that narcosis
narrows my perceptions a lot.
ok, dive two was also down to 150 feet, but this time i felt much better. we
toured the Grotto, and got to see a boat, an airplane, another boat, a kid's
car, and the van. Also got to see the motorcyle (finally) this time.
deco went just according to plan, and no mistakes like last time. then we
had to swim our tanks with no air on bc or drysuit from one of the platforms up
to the higher platform, and finally had to shoot a lift bag. shooting the lift bag
went fine, but i lost my double-ended clip (from my spool) (dropped it) (bastich)
Rick is a wonderful instructor, and taking classes with him is fun, but extremely
hard work, and very educational. i always feel like i learn a ton from him.
this was a great class. thanks Jean, for being such a great buddy, and thanks
Fred and WaterMan (i'm sorry, your name slips my memory just now). you guys
were a lot of fun to have around.
